Lighter



July l1, 1950 E, T, LAUBER 2,514,709

LIGHTER Filed June 2, 194 7 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E. T. LAUBER LIGHTER July 11, 195o 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 2, 1947 E. T. LAUBER July 11, 195.0

LIGHTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 2, 1947 'and partially in section.

Patented July 11z 1950 OFFICE LIGHTER Eduard Traugott Lauber, Uitikon, Zurich,

Switzerland Appucation June 2, 1947, serial No. 751,841 In Switzerland May 29, 1946 2 Claims.

This invention relates to pyrophoric lighters and more particularly to multiple ignition lighters, comprising two or more sparking wheels for the production of ignition sparks.

It is an object of the invention to provide a simple and at the same time a reliable operation of the lighter by coupling the different sparking wheels with each other by means of gearing and operating them simultaneously by a single actuation member, while the sparking wheels are so disposed relatively to the wick that ignition sparks are projected from at le'ast two opposite sides towards the wick. The disposition can be conveniently so that each sparking wheel is rigidly connected with a gear wheel.- The two gear wheels can mesh with eachother, one of f the gear wheels being then formed by example as ringer wheel for actuating the sparking wheels, or a separate gear wheel formed as nger wheel can mesh with one of the Agear wheels connected with the sparking wheels; when the two gear wheels of the sparking wheels do not directly mesh with each other, they can both mesh by example with a driving ring having internal teeth; the actuation member can be formed by the slidably or rotatably disposed cover of the fuel receptacle, this cover being provided with teeth meshing with one of the gear wheels of the sparking wheels, so that when opening the cover vthe sparking wheels are actuated and sparks produced..

A further object of the invention is the provision of a spring `detent between the actuating 'member and the sparking wheels so as toimpart to all sparking wheels a rotation Iby a'sudden .impulse on release of the detent.

The accompanying drawings represent by way of example and diagrammatically several embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 1-shows a lighter according .to the inven tion in lateral elevation, ,partially in section.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the lighter with the cover in'open position.,

Fig. 4 represents a modification in elevation Fig. 5is a plan'view of thisl modified lighter with the coverl in open position. l

Fig. 6 shows a furtherniodiiication of the lighter according tol` the invention with the cover of the receptacle in openl position.

Fig. '7v is a section along the line VII--VII of Fig."6 with'the co'ver in closed position.

Fig. 8 isV aside View of a, further modification. Fig. 9 is a frav mentary vertical section through this modication.-

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the cover of this lighter.

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary axial section of 'another construction of a lighter according to the invention.

Fig. 12 is a section along the line XII-XII of Fig. 11. v

Fig. 13 is a vertical section along the line XIII-XIII of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a section similar to that of Fig. l2 but showing the parts in another position'of operation. l

The lighter represented in Figs. 1 to -3 com,- prises a receptacle I forming the fuel container and having .a cover 2 pivotally fixed thereto by means of a hinge 3. The casing top wall- 4 carries a guide'tube 5 through which emerges the wick 6. The mechanism for the production of ignition sparks comprises two sparking wheels 'I and 8 against each of which a iiint stone .is pressed from below. The ints are guided in thetwo flint tubes 9 and I0 and applied against the sparking wheels in known manner by a not represented spring. The sparking wheelsv I and 8 are rotatably mounted eachon. an axis II and I2, respectively, carried by the casing top wall 4, and .are rigidly connected each with a gear Wheel I3 `and I4, respectively,.rotatable on each axis II and I2. The two wheels I3 and I4 mesh with each other, so that upon rotation of one wheel the other wheel rotates in opposite direction. The gear wheel I3 is used as finger wheel for actuating the sparking mechanism. Its toothed rim penetrates through a slot in the iront wall of the cover 2 and projects beyond the-front wall of the receptacle I as shown in'Fig. 1,.so that it can be rotated, when the cover 2 is opened, by actuation with the thumb of the hand hold*- ing the lighter, in the direction of the represented arrow. Upon rotation of the wheel I3 also the Wheel I4 is turned in the direction of the represented arrow. The two sparking wheels 'I and 8 turn together with the gear wheels I3 and Y I 4 and produce ignition sparks, which are projected from opposite directions towards the wick 6*;and ignite the latter. v

In the modification according to Figs: 4 andl 5 the lighter receptacle I -of cylindrical -shape comprises a top wall 4 carrying an annular supfport I6 by means of props I5 provided with'the hinge 3 for the cover 2. The top wall l of the receptacle carries two vertical axes I'I and I8 mounted equidistant and radially from thecen` ter of the receptacle and guided `by their upper ends in brackets I9 .and 2D. Each 'of these axes carries a gear wheel 2| and 22, respectively,l each of which is rigidly connected with a sparking wheel 23 and 24, respectively. The top wall 4 of the receptacle also carries two flint tubes 25 and 26, in each of which is lodged a spring, not shown, which presses the flint against the corresponding friction. Wheel,

An annular actuating member '21 is rotatably mounted between the top wall 4 of the receptacle and the support I5 and provided with internaly teeth which mesh with the two gear wheels 2'I and 22, while the outer face of the ring 21 is milled. The wick 6 of the lighter emerges from the wick guide 5 in the center of the top wall 4 of the receptacle between the two sparking wheels '23 and 24.

For using this lighter the cover 2 is opened. Then the actuating ring 21 can be turned with the thumb of the hand holding the lighter, whereby owing to the internal teeth of the ring 21 meshing with the two gear wheels 2|, 22, these gear wheels are also rotated. Since the iiints in the tubes 25 and 2S are pressed from opposite sides against the two sparking wheels '23 and 24, ignition sparks are projected from opposite directions towards the center to the wick 6 and enrsure a reliable ignition of the wick.

In the modication according to Figs. 6 and 7 the cover 2 is hingedly .connected to the receptacle l.. The cover 2Y can be formed by example as spring cover. A wheel 29 with internal teeth is rotatably mounted on a pin 28 carried by the wall .of the receptacle. Pinions 32 and 33, re-

For using the lighter, the cover 38 having a milled external surface, is displaced with the iinger of one hand in the direction of the represented arrow, whereby the rack teeth 40 of the cover cause rotation of the pinions 4I and 42 and of the sparking wheels 43 and 44 connected with them, and ignition sparks are` projected from opposite sides towards the wick B. Since the rack 4B of the cover is situated laterally of the wick spectively, are rotatably mounted on axes 30 and 3I parallel with the pin 28 ;r the two pinions mesh with each other and the pinion 33 also meshes lwith the internal teeth of the wheel 29. Each pinion 32 and 33 is rigidly connected with a sparking wheel 3'4 ,and 35, respectively. Flint stones `guided in flint tubes 9 and I0 are pressed Vfrom below against the two sparking wheels. The end of the wick 6 to be ignited is situated in the middle between the two sparking wheels 34 and 35.

For using the lighter the thumb of the hand 'hold-ing the receptacle after opening the cover 2, is placed against the milled external surface of the gear wheel 29 and a rotation is imparted to this latter in the direction of the represented arrow. `The twopinions 32 and 33 with the sparking wheels 34 and 3'5 are then rotated in opposed directions relatively to each other and ignition sparks are projected from both sides towards the wick 6. For turning the driving wheel 29 the spring cover 2 could also be operatively connected in known manner with this wheel, so that upon opening of the cover the wheel is turned and sparks are produced.

In the example according' to Figs. 8, 9 and 10 the cover itself 0f the lighter serves as actuation member for the sparking wheels: The cover 38 having the shape of a cylindrical sector is rotatably mounted on axes 36 and 31 at the side Walls of the receptacle and fuel container I, and

normally closes the sector-shaped opening 39 inl the receptacle. A curved gear rack 138` is provided s.:

on the inside of the cover 38 along a sidewall thereof and extendsA beyond one edge 45 of the cover, in order to mesh vwith a pinion 4I. The

pinion 4I and the pinion 42' meshing with it are rotatably mounted on the side walls' of the casing andl rigidly connected each with a sparking wheel 43 `and `44. Flint stones guided in each int tube Aare applied from below against the sparking wheel. The wick E is situated in the middle between the two sparking wheels.

guide 5 and the ilint tubes, the rack can pass beyond these tubes and the wick guide, while the .edge 45 of the cover limits the opening movement -of the latter by abutting against the flint tube IU. Closing of the cover could also be obtained by spring pressure, or the cover could be under spring tension in the closed position and automatically open when it is released to produce ignition sparks.

The modified lighter according to Figs. 11 to 14 comprises a cylindrical receptacle I which forms the fuel container, and a cover 2 adapted to stand upwardly. The cover 2 is pivotally connected by means of a 'hinge 3 to the upper end wall 45 Aof the receptacle carried by props I5 on the top wall 4. The wick 6 passes through the topwall 4 and the wall 45 by means of a wick guide 5 situated in the axis of the cylindrical receptacle I. On both sides of the wick E at diametrically Opposed points are disposed two sparking wheels 23' and 24, respectively. The axes I1 and I8 of these friction wheels penetrate through the wall 45 and are mounted in the top wall 4 of the receptacle I. The axis I1 carries a'pinion 2I and the axis I8 a pinion 22. The two pinions 2i and 22 are in mesh with the internal gear 46 of a ratchet disc 41. This latter is provided with a `number of `notches 48 which c0- loperate `with' a spring pawl 49. The pawl 49 is pivotallymounted by means of a pin 50 on the fixed wall 45. The ratchet disc 41 is mounted by the intermediary of balls 5I on the top wall 4 to be easily rotatable about the central axis of the receptacle I.

An annular actuating member 52 is rotatably mounted between the walls 4 and 45. A coiled spring 53 is fixed with one end to a pin 54 of the actuating member 52 and with the other end at pin '55 to the ratchet disc 41. The upper end face of the driving lring 52 lcarries a number of pins 56 equally spaced in circumferential direction.

For using the lighter the cover 2 is opened and the actuating ring 52 is turned in the direction of the represented arrow a in Fig. 12. The external face of the ring 52 can be provided with a milling 51 to 'be more easily gripped. The ratchet disc 41 is maintained against rotation by the pawl 49, so thatthe coiled spring 53 is tensioned, as is represented in Fig; 14. After a certain angular displacement of the ring 5.2 one of the pins 56 carried thereby abuts against the inclined edge 58 of the pawl 49 and causes this pawl to pivot about its axis and to release the ratchet disc 41 (Fig. 14). The energy accumulated by' the tensioned spring 53 is suddenly liberated and causes the ratchet disc 41 to spring also in the direction of the arrow va'until a Vpin 59 .of the ratchet disc abuts against the pin 54 of the `driving-ring' 52. The inclined edge 58 abandons the pin 56 and the pawl 49 engages into lthe 'next following notch 48' of the ratchet disc 41 and again maintains this latter. The quick lmovement .of rotation of the ratchet disc 41 after its release by raising the pawl -49 istransmitted by its internal teeth 46 to both pinions 2,1 and 22 and to the sparking wheels 23 and 24 rigidly connected with them. Flint stones contained in the int tubes 25 and 26 are pressed against the sparking wheels which turn in the direction of the hands of a clock in Fig. 12 and owing to the suddenly released quick movement they produce ignition sparks already with a relatively weak pressure of the flints, the sparks being projected from opposed sides towards the wick and ignite this latter.

It can happen, for example when new flint stones have been introduced into the flint tube 25 and 26, and the spring by which they are pressed against the sparking wheels is tensioned too much, that a rotation of the sparking wheels 23 and 24 requires a considerable power, particularly as long as the ends of the flints have not been ground down by the sparking wheels. In such a case it could happen that after moving the actuating ring 52 and in spite of the raised pawl 49 and released ratchet disc 41, this latter does not spring but remains locked owing to the pressure of the iiints and accordingly the lighter does not operate. For this reason the ratchet disc 41 is provided with an abutment pin 60, which is situated in the path of the pin 54 of the actuating ring 52 and so disposed relatively to this pin 54 that normally the pawl 49 is disengaged from the ratchet disc by the pin 56, before the pin 60 is reached by the pin 54, as shown in Fig. 14. When, however, the ratchet disc 41 is locked, the pin 54 bears against the pin 60 before the pin 56, which then slides along the edge 6l of the pawl 49, releases the pawl. When continuing the rotation of the ring 52, the ratchet disc is positively driven by the pin 54 of the ring 52 and transmits by means of its internal teeth 46 a corresponding movement of rotation to the sparking wheels 23 and 24. When the pin 56 of the actuating ring 52 has passed the edge 6I of the pawl 49, the pawl is free and can engage the next-following notch 48 of the ratchet disc 41, but it is at once disengaged again by the next following pin 56. The ratchet disc 41 accordingly can be continuously turned by actuating the ring 52 until the flint stones are ground down by the sparking wheels 23 and 24 and the force of the spring 53 suices to cause the lighter to operate normally, the tensioned spring 53 causing the pawl disc to spring, or until the person operating the lighter will be aware that the ratchet disc 41 does not spring, and then will remove the resistance between the flint stone and the friction wheel in another manner.

I claim:

l. A pyrophoric lighter having a cylindrical receptacle, a wick emerging from the receptacle in the central axis thereof, a ratchet disc rotatable about the axis of the receptacle, said ratchet disc having internal gear teeth and external ratchet notches, a pawl cooperating with said notches, an annular actuating member rotatable about the axis of the receptacle, a coiled spring having one end attached to said ratchet disc and the other end to said actuating member so as to be tensioned upon relative angular movement ber tween the ratchet disc and the actuating member, a pinion in mesh with the internal gear teeth of said ratchet disc, a sparking wheel connected to said pinion, and a series of pins on said actuating member corresponding each to one of said notches on the ratchet disc, said pawl projecting into the circular path of said pins, whereby said pawl is disengaged from the ratchet disc after an angular movement of the actuating member and the ratchet disc suddenly rotated by the action of said spring.

2. A pyrophoric lighter as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating member and said ratchet disc comprise cooperating abutments disposed so that after an angular movement of the actuating member greater than the angular movement required to disengage said pawl from the ratchet disc the abutment on the actuating member bears against the abutment on the ratchet disc to positively drive said disc.

EDUARD TRAUGOTT LAUBER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,485,342 Benham et a1 Feb. 25, 1924 1,718,038 Douglas June 18, 1929 1,759,340 Aronson May 20, 1930 1,819,319 Bell et al Aug. 18, 1931 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 48,559 Austria June 26, 1911 147,518 Austria Nov. l0, 1936 166,555 Switzerland Mar. 16, 1934 

